The Story of 174 King North

Today we have a post by Robbie from Addictions Services in the first of a series of blogs providing information about the specific addictions programs. This blog will talk about 174 King Street North.

Almost 40 Years of Healing

174 King Street North is House of Friendship’s men’s residential addiction treatment program. This program is the first addiction treatment program that was operated by House of Friendship and they first began service in 1975. 174 King Street North was opened as a way to respond to the needs of the community at that time, and has continued to meet the needs of men who have serious substance use issues for almost 40 years.

174 King Street North is a unique program, located in the heart of Waterloo. Men come to the program from anywhere in the province of Ontario and the length of stay is up to six months. There is a capacity of 15 men in the program at any one time. There are many things that make the 174 King Street North program unique. It is one of the only programs that does not have 24/7 hour staffing, meaning that the men live in the house and staff come in during the day to facilitate a structured, intensive, program including both psycho-educational groups and individual counselling.

Unique Community

Staff members are always available to men after hours via a pager; however, this unique structure has contributed to the men developing their own sense of community, as they are reliant on themselves and each other to maintain a safe environment for all who reside there. The groups that are part of the program are ; Communication Skills, Healthy Relationships, Masculinity & Sexuality, Recreation, Relapse Prevention, Family Issues, Personal Goal Setting, Positive Life Skills, Group Counselling and Interpersonal Relationships. After care Group Counselling is also available.

The program is operated by a relatively small, extremely dedicated staff team who put their all into their work. The men who attend the program are provided many opportunities to go out in the community and develop relationships with others in recovery. The final phase of treatment at 174 King Street North provides men with the opportunity to move to a house which provides less structure to help men transition back into the community. This house has room for five men to attend and while they are still attend group programming and participate in counselling at 174 King, they also have the opportunity to look for employment, housing, volunteer opportunities or apply to go back to school.

Recovery and Celebration

Many men over the past years have taken the opportunities that the treatment program at 174 King Street North has provided them to change their lives. Many men who have completed the program still have friendships with men they were in the program with and still connect with staff. Some take the time to return to the program and share their story with the new men seeking recovery. 174 provides two structured celebrating sobriety dinners in the year to provide the opportunity for alumni from the program to attend and reconnect.